Saturday, June 14, 2008

Penedesenca Chickens

Penedesenca Eggs

Penedesenca Chick

Penedesenca Rooster and Hen

The Penedesenca breed is originally from a much older breed that was developed in Catalonia, Spain. Varieties of Penedesenca include Creole, Partridge, Wheaton, and Black. Though fairly common in Central and South America, Penedesencas have only recently been available in North America. Penedesenca chickens are becoming popular for backyard flocks because the hens produce a huge amount of eggs, which are a very dark reddish brown. Penedesenca pullets (hens under one year of age) lay eggs that are almost black, but lighten to a very dark brown once the hens are over a year old. Penedesenca eggs are small to medium in size. These chickens are quite hardy, especially in very hot climates and tend to be flighty, avoiding most contact with humans. Penedesencas do not have a Bantam counterpart.